The NEJM report compares the data from the 1990 study to the data from 2015 study. By comparing the 1990 data to the 2015 data it lessens the effect of the large number of euthanasia deaths. The growth in euthanasia doesn't appear as tragic when expressed as increases over 25 years.

The NEJM report states:

The percentage of patients in whom an end-of-life decision had preceded death increased from 39% in 1990 to 58% in 2015. In 1990, 1.7% of all deaths were the result of euthanasia; in 2015, the percentage was 4.5%. The rate of physician-assisted suicide varied between 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. In 2015, physician assistance in dying was requested by 8.3% of all deceased persons. Ending of life without an explicit patient request decreased, from 0.8% in 1990 to 0.3% in 2015. The use of morphine to alleviate symptoms while taking into account possible hastening of death as a result increased from 19% of all deaths in 1990 to 36% in 2010 and 2015. Continuous deep sedation was provided in 8.2% of all patients in 2005 and in 18.3% in 2015; this practice involved the use of benzodiazepines, often combined with an opioid, in 83% and 95% of all cases, respectively.

According to the Netherlands 2015 official euthanasia report there were 5561 reported assisted deaths in 2015 and yet the data from the study indicates that there were 7254 assisted deaths in 2015. Therefore, there were 1693 unreported assisted deaths (approximately 23%) in 2015.

The 431 terminations of life without explicit request had increased from 310 in 2010.

Based on the five year interval reports:

• In 2005 there were 2425 assisted deaths (20% were not reported and 550 deaths were without explicit request).

• In 2015 there were 7254 assisted deaths (23% were not reported and 431 deaths were without explicit request).

The study was done in a similar manner as the previous studies in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010. The researchers sent out questionnaires to the attending physicians concerning deaths from August - November 2015 in the Netherlands. The researchers sent out 9351 questionnaires and 7761 (78%) questionnaires were returned.

There were 7254 assisted deaths, that already included the 431 deaths without request. The 4.5% figure is only based on the 6672 euthanasia deaths, but omitted the 150 assisted suicide deaths. Therefore the number is actually 4.6%.

In my next article I analysed the 2016 data and based on the 10% increase in assisted deaths in 2016 there is a 5% killing rate in 2016.

When a person is killed by doctors without their consent there is only one evil will involved, the doctor's. When people consent to the killing, or worse ask for it, two evil wills are involved. So voluntary euthanasia is worse than involuntary. To consider involuntary euthanasia worse is to go along with the false idea of autonomy that leads to the de.and for euthanasia in the first place.